Oil separator



Sept- 8, 1953 E. P. woRTHEN ETAL 2,651,415

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Patented Sept. 8, 1953 oIL sEPAnA'roR Eugene Porter Worthen, Braintree, and Charles S. L. Robinson, West Newton, Mass., assignors Ito Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 1, 1947, Serial N o. 745,270

8 Claims.

This invention relates in general to an apparatus for separating the oil from oil-contaminated waters, and more particularly to an apparatus of this nature which is especially adapted for marine and industrial purposes.

Bilge and ballast oil separators are installed on vessels to handle oily bilge and ballast water when it is being pumped overboard. This servvice difers from other separator applications in that large quantitiesrof oily water must be han dled at a high flow rate, on the order of `50 or 100 tons per hour.

The usual object of such separators is to prevent oil from polluting restricted waters and to save it for burning under the vships boilers. The oil in the overboard water is usually not a1- lowed to exceed 0.05%. Since this percentage depends on the oil content of the water to the separator and the rate at which it flows, the ratings are arbitrariliy based on 3% oil in the incoming water. v

The present invention is also well suited for industrial applications where unemulsied oil must be removed from large water flows.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a separator which will allow a maximum amount of time for separation, while minimizing the distance through which an oil particle must rise.

Another object is a separator which will permit a continuous inlet flow of the mixture at low velocity and without excessive turbulence.

Another object is a separator which operates in a plurality of stages with increased separating capacity; Y

Another object is a separator inwhich second stage oil flow is returned to first stage inlet.

Another object is a sight glass arrangement for indicating location of oil level in first stage and clarity of overboard discharge water.

Still another object is an electrically operated oil outlet valve which automatically maintains rst stage oil level within proper limits.

Other and further objects, purposes and advantages of' this invention will be apparent from .the following description, wherein reference Vis made to the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention and wherein like reference numerals designate like parts.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the bilge and 'ballast oil separator comprising this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of said separator; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the Vline 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section showing in detail the baie plate supporting brackets;

Fig. 6 is a partial rear elevation showing the washing soda and steaming-out connections;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the elbow and turning vanes attached to the diffuser cone to reduce the turbulence of the inflow;

Fig. 8 is a detail View of the sight glass for indicating oil levels and clarity of discharge;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 8; Y Fig. 10 is a section of one of the electrical control probes, taken on the line IIJ- I0 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation, partially in section, of said electrical control probe; and

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the separator showing the electrical controls of the oil outlet valve.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the sepa- ,rator externally .comprises a cylindrical metal inlet 9 is located at one side near the top head 5, separated oil outlet I0 is located centrally in said top head 5, and clean water outlet II is located centrally in the bottom head 6.

The internal arrangements, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, include a horizontal diffuser cone I2, expanding-gradually from inlet 9 to full diameter at the downwardly projectingcentral elbow I3 provided 4with a plurality of parallel spaced curved inner baiiles Vor vanes I 4. Beneath the cone I2 and elbow I3 the shell I is divided into first-stage and second-stage separating compartments I5 and, I6 by a frusto-conical bailie plate I'I..having a central aperture I8 and upright side rim I 9 spaced from the shell I, to which the top rim 20 of said frusto-conical baffle plates I Gris welded or otherwise secured.

`distance from shell I, land the successively lower platesare'spaced at increasing distances from said kshell and vthe side rim I9. The outer edge of the bottom plate 24 of this group of plates, however, again approaches closer to the side rim I9. All these plates are held in uniformly spaced relation by step-shaped supporting brackets 25, welded to each plate and to the top rim 20 as shown in Fig. 5.

The second stage compartment I6 has a similar, but larger, tapered decussate flow splitter 26 suspended from the bottom baille plate 24 of the first stage, and a larger number of horizontal evenly spaced circular baffle plates 21 of down-` wardly decreasing diameters,` suspended from the frusto-conical baille plate I1 by the stepped brackets 28, the flow splitter 28 passing `through central apertures 29 in all but the bottom plate 30.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, it will be noted that the inner apertures 22 and the outer diameters of the circular baffle plates 23 successively decrease in size downwardly in each compartment. One purpose of this is to maintain la low and substantially uniform velocity of ow within such compartment, since the quantity of inlet flow moving centrally downward is diminished at each separating layer by the amount of now passing outward through that layer, and the flow quantity at the outer edge of each layer is correspondingly increased.

A steam coil 3l having an upper inlet elbow 32 and lower outlet connection 33 is preferably mounted within the shell I on suitable supports 34, 35 and 35, secured upon the angle 31, cone I2, and side rim I9, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in order to heat the oil and thereby decrease its viscosity.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 6, the T 38 serves as an inlet for steam to flow upward through the pipe 39, elbow 40 and pipe 4I to the upper inlet elbow 32 of the steam coil. Said vT 38 is also connected in nipple 42, which in turn connects to female union 43, pipe 44, check valve 45, pipe 45, and T 41. The T 41 is upwardly connected to the pipe 48, gate valve 49, pipe 5D, and T 5l. Pipe plug 52 in the upper branch of the T 5I is removable to permit additions of Washing soda during clean-out periods. The other branch of the T 5| is connected by the short nipples 53, joined by union 54, to the half coupling 55, thereby admitting steam and 'washing soda for the purpose of cleaning the interior of the separator.

A pressure gauge 55, having for example -60 pounds scale, is mounted on bracket 51v and connected to the iirst stage compartment I by the half-coupling 58, street elbow 59, nipple B0, union 5I, nipple 62 and cock 53.

Sight glass connections are shown in Figs. 1, 3 and l2, and include the half coupling 64 on the bottom head 6, the short nipple 65, elbow 66, union 81, pipe 58, union 69, and gate valve connected to the small sight glass 1I, which in turn is connected to gate valve 12 and thence to the lower inlet half-coupling 13 at the bottom of the large sight glass 14.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 8 and 9, the large sight glass 14 comprises an oblong, rectangular, vertically disposed metal casing 15, opposite side plates of which are cutaway and provided with recessed edges to admit transparent hard glass cover plates 16 which are made watertight byA gaskets 11 and secured in place by recessed rectangular frames 'I8 fastened to the casing 15 by studs 19 and nuts 80. A second inlet thereto is provided by the small street elbow 8I and coupling 82, connecting by means of elbow 83, short nipple 84, union 85, pipe 86, gate valve 81, pipe 88, union 89, short nipple 90, 90 elbow 9I, short nipple 92, and half-coupling 93 to the lowest desirable oil level in the first stage compartment I5.

The third or upper inlet connection to the sight glass 14, disposed about midway of its height, comprises the short radius elbow 94, connected as shown in Fig. 3 by the union 95, nipple 86 and half-coupling 91 to the top portion of the second stage compartment I6, just below the top rim 20 of the frusto-conical baffle plate I1. The outlet connection of the sight glass 14 is' the half-coupling 9B, connected by pipe 99 and union |00 to pipe IGI entering into the first stage inlet 9, wherein the upper portion of said pipe IDI is left open rearwardly to permit the reentry into the separator of ilow from the sight glasses.

The flow of outlet water, through the orice |92 in plate l03 into the discharge pipe I04 and pressure loop I05, is continuous and requires no regulation. The flow of outlet oil may be regulated manually, by the globe valve Illa operated by the hand wheel I01 and extension rods I08 and I 69 connected by universal joint III) and supported on bracket IH, or automatically through the discharge pipe I I2 and solenoid valve II3, operated by conventional electrical relay II4 Yand insulated upper and lower probes or electrodes I I5 and IIS, provided with longitudiA nal fins II1 having sharp edges II8, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and mounted in suitably insulated electrode holders H9 on the upper head 5.

The relay H4 may be of any suitable com mercial electromagnetic or electronic type. Either type may be used successfully, the electronic type being generally more sensitive and easily adjusted but also more expensive than the electromagnetic type. The 4relay is provided with power supply lines I29 and I2I for' actuating the relay and solenoid valve respectively, with leads I22 and |23 to the probes and solenoid valve respectively, and with the lead |24 grounded t0 the separator shell.

To assist in handling with a crane or the like, as during installation or repairs, lifting lugs |25 are securely welded to the upper' head 5 of the separator.

n operation, the very eliic'ient separating action of this apparatus is based on the difference in density between the oil and the water. Typically, the oil may be a heavy fuel o'il with a' speciiic gravity of 0.98 and the water may' be sea water with a speciiic gravity of 1.03. The separating force is gravity. The speed at which an oil particle rises depends also upon particle shape, water viscosity, and particle size. These are related by well known physical laws, so the separating velocity may be calculated for any given case. Smaller particles rise more slowly than larger ones, so the capacity of a separator varies with the minimum dispersed particle size to be removed.

Accordingly, the oil and water mixture to be separated enters the inlet 9 and flows through the long horizontal diffusing cone I2, thus causing a large reduction of velocity, on the order of 6:1 from the initial velocity, without turbulence because of the gradual expansion of the cone. The mixture is then directed downward by' the elbow I3 to enter the separating spaces or layers between the baille plates 23 of the first stage compartment I5. The parallel curved baiiles or varies I4 cause all the fluid to make the turn at approximately the same, radius of curvature, and thereby prevent secondary centrifugal currents which could later harm the separating action.v

The flow' enters the separating layers at the center and flows radially outward. In these layers, the velocity becomes very 'low toward the outer periphery and the `oil is given considerable time to rise to the top. Itis only necessary for it to rise to the upper plate of Aa given layer, because there it will adhere to that surface and join with other particles.

At" the outer periphery the very low water velocity will sweep off only large globules of oil. These will rise rapidly across the water streams because the speed with which oil particles rise increases as the square of their diameters. If the oil quantities are very large, then they make continuous streams of oil channeling through the water. Thus no pipes or conduits for the oil are necessary within the separator. In a certain sense the multiple layers are used only to cause small particles to join and form larger ones.

The water from the first stage I5 flows downward and then horizontally to the center at the top of the second stage I6. The separating action of said second stage I6 is essentially the same as that of the rst stage I5. However, the second stage IB is larger than the iirststage l5, having ten A(l) separating layers as compared to four (4) Velocities are reduced in the same proportion, and thus more of the smaller oil particles are removed. Under" ordinary conditions, these smaller particles are not a large fraction of the total volume of entering oil, but they must be removed for the outlet water to be clean, and accordingly they are joined together in large particles and returned through large elbow 94, sight glass '14, and pipes 99 and IUI to the rst stage inlet 9.

The outlet water ows continuously from the bottom orifice |02 and piping loop |05, which loop is sufciently high to main a moderate pressure in the shell. This pressure will force oil out of the top outlet lil of the unit when the oil valves |06 and H3 are opened.

The automatic regulation of the outlet valve H3 depends upon the fact that Water is a conductor of electricity whereas all oils are fairly good insulators. When Water touches the upper probe l l current ows from it to the separator shell. Although this current may be less than one milliampere, it is suflicient to cause the relay H4 to close the solenoid valve H3. The valve remains closed until oil insulates not only the upper probe H5 but also the lower probe Hl.`

Then when current ceases to flow through the lower probe HB, the relay H4 reopens the solenoid valve H3. The fins H1 and sharp edges H8 cut through adhering oil films which would tend to insulate the probes even when irnmersed in water.

The use of sight glasses 1I and 14 to observe the operation is based on the principle that as their inside surfaces are already immersed in Water and wetted by it, oil globules will not adhere to them or obscure the glasses.

A sample of flow from the bottom of the separator, which represents the outflow, is drawn up through the small sight glass 1l, where it can be carefully observed, and thence into the larger sight glass 14. This Water is relatively free 6. lowest desirable oil level in the first stage. When large oil globules appear at its exit, the oil outletvalves should be opened. The larger flow into the upper sight glass is oil collected off the second stage. All these flows are returned to the first stage inlet 9.

Although we have thus described our invention hereinabove in considerable detail, we do not wish to be limited narrowly to the exact particulars disclosed, or to the specific liquids treated, but may use such substitutes, modifications, or equivalents thereof as are included within the scope of .the invention or pointed out in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A separating device for cil and water mixtures, comprising an enclosing shell, -a funnel shaped baffle dividing the shell into upper and lower oil-collecting chambers, an oily water inlet and a separate oil outlet connecting to the upper chamber, a water outlet connecting to the lower chamber, and conduit means for recycling oil collected in the upper part of the lower chamber to the upper chamber inlet.

2. A separating device for oil and water mixture, comprising a shell having an oily water inlet and a separate oil outlet'at the top and a water outlet at the bottom thereof, Aa centrally inclined baiie dividing the shell into upper and lower oil-collecting chambers, and external conduit means for returning oil recovered in the lower chamber to the upper chamber for discharge therefrom.

3. A separating device for oil and water mixtures, comprising a shell divided by a transverse funnel-shaped bale into first and second stage compartments, a mixture inlet adjacent the top of the shell and separate oil and water outlets at the top and bottom of the shell respectively, and sight glasses communicating with an area near the water outlet and with the middle portion of the rst stage and the upper portion of the second stage compartments, said second stage sight glass serving also to discharge collected oil from the second stage to the rst stage.

4. A separating device for oil and water mixtures, comprising an upright cylindrical shell having top and bottom heads, a frusto-conical baille plate provided with a central aperture and dividing the shell into upper and lower compartments, diffusing inlet means for admitting oily water into the upper compartment, a plurality of parallel bailie plates provided with central apertures of downwardly decreasing diameters in each compartment, means for segmenting the inliow into each compartment, a separated oil outlet in the upper compartment, and a cleansed water outlet in the lower compartment.

5. A separating device for oil and water mixtures, comprising an upright cylindrical shell having top and bottom heads, a irusto-conical baffle plate provided with a central aperture and dividing the shell into upper and lower compartments, an oily water inlet located at one side of the upper compartment near the top head, a horizontal diffuser cone connected to said inlet, a downwardly projecting elbow connected to said diffuser cone, a plurality of spaced curved vanes within said elbow, a plurality of horizontal parallel circular baffle plates suspended centrally in each compartment, a flow splitter in each compartment disposed centrally of the baffle plates, lthe flow splitter in the lower compartment depending from the upper compartment through the central aperture of the frusto-conical baille plate, a separated oil outlet located centrally of the top head, and a clean water outlet located centrally of the bottom head.

6. A separating device for oil and water mixtures, comprising an upright cylindrical shell, a diaphragm dividing said shell into upper and lower communicating compartments, an oily water inlet and a separate oil outlet connecting to the upper compartment, a water outlet connecting to the lower compartment, a series of substantially flat horizontal circular baiile plates of downwardly decreasing inner and outer diameters spaced from the shell in each compartment, and means including a downwardly tapering baie for distributing the flow radially between the baille plates in each compartment.

7. A separating device for oil and water mixtures, comprising an upright cylindrical shell, a

diaphragm dividing said shell into upper and lower communicating compartments, an oily water inlet and a separate oil outlet connecting to the upper compartment, a water outlet connecting to the lower compartment, a series of annular baffle plates of downwardly decreasing diameters spaced from the shell in each compartment, and a conduit connecting the upper portion of the lower compartment with the inlet of the upper compartment.

8. A separating device for oil and water mixtures, comprising an upright cylindrical shell, an oily water inlet and a separate oil outlet connecting to the upper portion of the shell, a water outlet connecting to the lower portion ci the shell, a plurality of substantially at annular baille plates of downwardly decreasing inner and outer diameters mounted within the shell in spaced relation thereto, and means including a downwardly tapering baffle for distributing the flow radially between the baille plates.

EUGENE PORTER WORTI-IEN. CHARLES Si. L. ROBINSON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,134,419 Rensink Apr. 6, 1915 1,320,340 Overlin Oct. 28, 1919 1,516,132 Allen et al Nov. 18, 1924 1,613,507 Feely Jan. 4, 1927 1,698,002 Pink Jan. 8, 1929 1,943,367 Champion Jan. 16, 1934 1,958,010 Meurk May 8, 1934 2,025,883 Mobley Dec. 31, 1935 2,104,050 Nibecker et a1 Jan. 4, 1938 2,119,348 Parsons May 31, 1938 2,232,709 Luetgert Feb. 25, 1941 2,294,697 Seip Sept. l, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 218,462 Great Britain July l0, 1924 473,108 Great Britain Oct. 6, 1937 

